as if the average westerner ever regarded us as fellow Europeans to begin with decades of humiliating 'EU membership' fallacy is another good example. what is wrong with 'middle eastern' category? because of being associated with Arabs? islam? terrorism? geographically Turkey is indeed in the ME (Asia) and culturally/genetically I'd consider us as Eurasians. that said, i dont believe US and west european countries (EU decision-makers) are honest and sincere with us, akp or not, as the history has clearly shown. you make it sound like a case of you (Turkey) being rejected by a girl (West), but you still belief that she truly loves you, only to be used by her when it suits her and being backstabbed when it suits her. time to move on, adapt to life and find a new girl.
Islamic Faith is right, bro. You can now see those reports about seeking nuclear weapons by turkey, and put them in this category of new propaganda policy. There has always been clear distinction between Turkey and ME countries for europeans. which middle-eastern country has received NATO membership, western weapons and technology, and tens of millions western tourists, ... All that said, but deep down in europeans psyche, they have never forgot Ottoman turks, on Vienna's doors. Also, the struggle about more power in EU is serious, and basically the Germany+France, do not even allow UK to have even much influence in EU, let alone letting big countries like Turkey and Russia to join this union some time, and change their status. It's a complicated issue bro, and we should not over simplify it.